Automatic chain lubricator



INVENTOR.

MAR Ll N C. MOO RE PARKER 8. CARTER ATTORNEYS Oct. 13, 1959 M. c, MooRE AUTOMATIC CHAIN LUBRIcAToR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26. 1957 i il! |||l|||m E OR me o MM C m .L Dn A M PARKER 8 CART ER ATTO RNEYS United States Patent O AUTOMATIC CHAIN LUBRICATOR .n fMallin.1C.Mo0re,,MilwaukeeWis. .-f Appiiaagii June 26,1957, serial No. 668,159

' 10 iclaims. (c1. 1s4-1s) ,This invention relates Vto chain lubricators, `and more 'ptrtifilarlv to .an air operated device forautomatcally lubricating thefrin'dividual v chain links of an overhead QQIYCYOI'- {I t ,manife'stto anyone familiar Vwith the art, that in the lubricationof the rchain links in an loverhead con- \`Iey',or,V and/more particularly where the link pins are in a" vertical position, that due to intervening trolley brak s d `pending `from the chain, it-is impossible to have'oildisprensing nozzles placed in a xed position over the chain. The principal object of my inventionis to pro:- videV a ldevice having means -for automatically vmoving oil ing nozzles in and outof precise lubricating positinlover the pivot pins. during movement ofthe con- VCYO''.

Another 4object of my invention is to provide a lubrieating device'adaptable 4for conveyor chains, .which may cooperate automatically with fthe trolley hangers or similar ttachrnents on the chain to cause oil dispensing nozbelmovedoutof lubricating positionrelative tothe veyorchain pivotpins, after certain of said pins have been lubricated.

YAnother object ofmy inventionis to provide a device having means forsswinging the. entire lubricating unit out of position, to ,permit the carriage vor parts Vsuspended therefrom yto pass a given point, l,but permitting restoratir'l` offs-'the unit With its dispensing nozzles in Vtherproper position .for supplying metered amounts of lubricant Vto the individual Apivot pins during predetermined cycles of operation ofthe conveyor or, chain.

-fOther `objects ofniy invention will become more aipparen't thedescription proceeds .whenVt-aken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

n,Figilre 1,is -a toporplan view of a conveyor structure tofwdhichaflubricating `device made Vin accordance with thev. invention .is `applied, .but with .certain parts broken away to show details ofthe conveyor;

Figure f2fis alsectional viewof the device shown in Figure '1, taken onthelines 2-2 of Figure l and illustrating-.the n1anner.in which the,lubricating.device may be',swung. into oroutofdubricating positionrelative to tbeonveyor; 'Fignre 3 isa diagrammatic view of the principal parts of the lubricating system;V

4^'Figurer-fi isa detaillview of the master valve;

j Figure 5-isnan enlarged longitudinal section of the oil dispensing distributor; and

lFigure '6 is an enlarg'dde'tail sectiontaken on line 6-.76 ofFigurel.

,l'effeifri'rig,n'ovv to details of they illustrative embodiment of e invention shown in the drawings, the character 10 indicates an `I-,bearn which forms the main support for `a chainconveyor. 1,6.` SaidI-beam has a. rigid vframe 11 on its upper face, consisting of end pieces 12 and. 1 2', connec'tedby a side member 13, and having a plate 14 near one endthereo AAlubricator unit 15 is hinged at 19 and 7119*" to one side Ioi 'the frame 11 alongone side of the I-beam, :and 'includes twojend pieces 16,16; a depending 2,908,355v Patented Oct. 13, 1959 ICC ing brackets 21 and 21 at opposite ends`, oppos,ed tofipstanding bracketson the end pieces 1 2, 1 2' of the iixed'rfranien 11. Tension springs22fand 22' connect the brackets 20,21 and'20, 2.1', respectively, sofasito ytend to swing the lubricator unit 11,5 into va partially raised position away from the conveyorchain 26, as shown by dottedA lines 'in Figure 2, when the lubricating is not 1n use.

The rail 10 serves as a support for a plurality of 5spa c e, d carriages or yokes 2 3, which V have opposed rollers 2d, rotatably mounted on horizontal pins at opposite sides f'the I-beam, so as `to permit vthe caniages to move laterally along the rail 1 0. The carriages 2 3 lare connectedV by the conveyorchainfZG )at spaced points below the I-beam. Said conveyorichain consists of a plurality of'linkfs 26 joined 'by upright pivot pins '27. Thevconveyo `may have any suitable vsupporting devices (not shown) connected theretofor conveyingmaterial.. The side member 1 3 of the rigid frame 1`1`m`ay have a plurality of depending brackets 28, Which supportrollers 2 9'on vertical pins 30 v at i their lower ends.' These rollers serve as lateral supports lforone side vof the conveyor chain 26. i

The lower platform 18 of the lubricator unit 15 has a pair of sprockets 32 and 32' rotatablfmounted thereon by upright pivot pins 33, 33. The sprockets V32 and 3` 2 have an auxiliary chain 34 trained thereabout, which has a plurality of rollers 35 on brackets 35' projecting out# Wardly therefromso thatv onereach of said chain 4is adapted for driving inter-engagement with certain links of the conveyor chain V:26,'thus vcausing Asaid auxiliary chain to movein an orbital path as shown b y arrow in Figure 1.V Thesprockets 32 and 3 2' are pr`o vided with npwardlyeiitendinlg pins 36cm equal radii, which are connected by ay bar 37; i As the sprockets- 32 and 32 revolve, the bar 37 oscillates in acycloidal path, as indicated by the dotted lines in the same iigu're#n In the form shown-herein, the bar 37 has a depending iiange 37, t. i.

A master air valve 38 vis mounted on the frame, ,and is connected by a flexible tube 41 toI an`air vcyliride'rZ onframe-ll provided with a plunger 43 which's adapted to engage `an outwardlyextending niember`20 of the bracket '20 mounted on the end member 1'6'of the hinged lubricatorframe 15. Valve 38 may-be suspended from plate 14 or otherwise supported from the frame yirl-"the position illustrated in Figures l and 2. lSince'the details of supporting the valve 38 in thev position illustrated form no partlof the present invention, the valve'is illustrated diagrammatically, Without a showing of its supporting connection. Airjpressure is supplied to the valve 38'by anilajr supply duct d4. A 4flexible tube 45, common with the tube 41, leads fromthe valve 38 to an :airqvalve 146 xedonthe platform 18 v(see Figure 6). 7Said air valve 46 is voperated by a lever 47 having a roller 48 kat its outer end adapted to be `contacted by the flange 37 of, oscillating bar 37 on the sprockets 32, 32. yThis air valvell has a duct 49 which leads to an oil distributorS) mounted On the verticalwall 17 of the. lubricating frame 15. distributor 50 has anair cylinder 51 with spring-pressed piston V51 and piston rod 5 1" therein. Said'piston` rod is connected Vto an oil metering device 52 :which is .of a wellfknovvn commercial form, including 1aplunger15:2' movable `alonga cylinder 52"v Vto supply metered'amounts' of oil to a pluralitysof tubes 53, `453 each leading'to oil dispensing nozzles 53', 53.V Oil is lfeci to the dispensing cylinder 52 vvfr om yanjil rervoir 55 mounted ron vthe plate14 through Vla ilexible vtube V54. Theplunger :52' has a 'centra l bore-55 and afcross :bore 56 communicating with, fits out-:r end. The arrangement 'such that :upon

depending lug 39 at its outerend, inv position to be engaged by a trip arm 23' projecting from one of the conveyor carriages 23, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

n By referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that the entire lubricating unit is hingedly supported at 19, and is normally held by springs 22 in a retracted position, shown by dotted lines, so that the entire unit is swung away closed after all of the chain pins of said conveyor Vchain have been oiled. i'

When the master valve 38 is closed, air pressure will simultaneously be relieved from the air cylinder 42, so as to permit the lubricating assembly to be swung by springs 22 into an out-of-the-way position relative to the conveyor chain, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

From the above description, it will now be understood that my improved form of air operatedV lubricator is driven by the conveyor chain so as to actuate a group of oil dispensing nozzles which move in and out over the I' conveyor chain as well as along' with it, without interfrom the chain 26, in an out-of-the-way position, so that itcannot interfere with theoperation of the conveyor.

The use and operation are as follows:

When it is desired to .lubricate thechain 26, the handie 39 is manipulated tofopen the air valve 38. Air

under pressure supplied through tube 44 passes through said air valve and divides into two directions--one through tube 41 to extend plunger 43 of the cylinder 42, so as to force the angle plate 20 outwardly, thus swinging the entire lubricating unit inwardly to its full-line, lubricating position shown in Figure 2.

b Air from the valve 38 also passes through the exible tube 45 to the valve 46. The opening of this valve is controlled by a spring-pressed arm 47, which has a roller 48 at its outer end adapted to be engaged by the llange 37' on bar 37 to swing the arm 47 to its open position .l -v

only when said bar is moved to its innermost position relative to the conveyor, as seen in Figures 1 and 3.

v The bar 37 connecting the sprockets 32 and 32' is so rotated in timed relation to the movement of the conveyor chain 26 that the valve 46 will only be opened when the four oil nozzles 53' shown in Figure 1 are disposed immediately above the same number of pivot pins 27 of the conveyor chain 26, as seen in Figure l.

tOpening of the air valve 46 causes air under pressure to be` conducted through tube 49 to the air cylinder 50, which actuates the oil metering device 52, thereby causinga small amount of oil to be discharged throughv each of the dispensing tubes 53 and their respective oil nozzles 53'. VrI'hus, a few drops of oil will be distributed by pressure directly on the upper ends of those pivotl pins which are at that instant disposed below said nozzles.

As the conveyor chain is moving in the direction of the arrow in Figure l, the auxiliary chain 34 will also be moved along with said conveyor chain in the same direction, so that the connecting bar 37 will quickly move away to permit air valve 46 to be closed by its spring, and also cause the nozzles 53 to be withdrawn laterally from above the chain 26. Closing of this air valve will also relieve pressure in the air cylinder 50, so that the oil dispensing device 52 will be restored to an initial position ready for the next oiling cycle.

It will be further understood that the auxiliary chain 34 is orbitably movable in such timed relation with the conveyor chain 26, that the next time the connecting bar 37 reaches its uppermost position so `as to open air valve 46 for dispensing another shot of oil, the next four succeeding-pivot pins 27 of the conveyor chain 26 will have been progressed into a position where the four dispensing nozzles 53' will be simultaneously moved inwardly on bar 37 into ,registering position over said pins. In this manner, repeated oiling operations on successive groups of chain pins can be continued until the entire chain is lubricated. Operation of the lubricating system may, however, be discontinued at any time by manually moving the valve arm 39 to its closed position, or it may be automatically discontinued by engagement of the trip arm 23' on one of carriages 23` of they conveyor chain 26 (see FigureZL-so the vmaster valve 38 will be ference with the trolley brackets. The nozzles `are properly positioned over the chain pins so as to dispense an accurately metered amount of oil on the top of each pm.

The assembly frame holding the moving parts of the lubricator is suspended on pivots. Shutting olf the to the air cylinder 42 causes the unit -to disengalgeand be completely inactive. This shutoff may be accomplished either manually, or automatically by a tripping member attached to a trolley hanger or bracket. The automatic shutoi not only causes the lubricator4 unitV to be swung away from the conveyor but discontinues operation of the lubricator means after the conveyor chain has completed one circuit and all pins have been lubricated.

The occasional use of the lubricator will assure all chain pins being uniformly and adequately lubricated without any manual labor. This will result in decreased wear and maintenance and less load on the drives.V

Although I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described but that various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit and4 scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A lubricating device for conveyor chains having links connected by pivot pins, comprising an oil metering device, a plurality of nozzles fed from said oil metering device, means for supporting saidnozzles in spaced relation along said conveyor chainv the same distance as the distance between adjacent pivot pins, means for actuating said oil metering device, and control means interengaged and movable with said conveyor chain for operating said actuating device momentarily when said nozzlesv are in oil-depositing registry with a plurality'of saidl pivot pins. e l

2. The structureof claim l, wherein the oil metering device and the actuating and control means therefor are vmounted on a frame movable into and out of cooperative relation with the conveyor chain. v

3. The structure of claim 2, wherein lluid pressure means is provided for moving the frame and for actuating the oil metering device, and control means is provided for said iluid pressure means for rendering the oil metering device inoperable when the frame is moved out of cooperative position relative to the conveyory chain.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein the supporting means for the nozzles is `actuated by said rstlnamed control means for movement into and out of registering position with adjacent pivot pins. y

5. In combination with a conveyor chain having connected by pivot pins, a supporting frame for said conveyor chain, a lubricating unit for said pivot pins hinged on said lframe for movement toward and away from said conveyor chain, said lubricating unit comprising a plurality of nozzles adapted to bev moved with said unit into simultaneous registeringoil dispensing relation with a plurality of successive pivot pins1on said conveyor chain, and means operable in timed relation with the movement of said conveyor chain for dispensing a predetermined amount of oil to said nozzles When said nozzles are in simultaneous registering relation with a plurality of pivot pins.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein the means operable in timed relation with the movement of the conveyor chain includes means for simultaneously withdrawing said nozzles and discontinuing the supply of oil to said nozzles.

7. The structure of claim 5, wherein tension means is provided for normally swinging said lubricating unit away from said conveyor chain, and fiuid pressure means is provided for swinging said unit into operating position relative to said frame, and additional uid pressure means actuate the oil dispensing means.

8. The structure of claim 5, wherein the means operable in timed relation with the movement of the conveyor chain includes a rotatable member mounted on the swingable lubricating unit and actuated in response to movement of the links of the conveyor chain, and the iirst named means also includes a control valve operated when the member has rotated through a circumferential distance corresponding to the distance between the predetermined number of pivot pins of the conveyor chain which are served at one time by the nozzles of the lubricating unit.

9. In combination with a conveyor chain having links connected by pivot pins, a supporting frame for said conveyor chain, a lubricating unit for said pivot pins including a pair of chain sprockets mounted adjacent said conveyor chain and having an auxiliary chain trained thereabout, one reach of said auxiliary chain having driving interengagement with said conveyor chain, a bar connecting said sprockets so as to be oscillated in an orbital path toward and away from said conveyor chain, an oil dispensing nozzle mounted on and movable with said bar, and means actuated in timed relation with said auxiliary chain for discharging oil through said nozzle when the latter is in registering position with one of the pivot pins of said conveyor chain.

l0. The structure of claim 9, wherein a plurality of oil dischanging nozzles are disposed along the bar in spaced relation so as to be movable simultaneously into and out of registering position with a plurality of pivot pins of the conveyor chain.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,502,659 Livingston Apr. 4, 1950 2,594,039 Le Clair Apr. 22, 1952 2,696,277 Schweisthal Dec. 7, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Y 238,580 Great Britain Aug. 5, 1926 

